The School Plus Network came into being in 2001 in the Balkans as the result of the "Grassroots Democracy" program. It is a network of NGOs registered in existing schools in South and Central Eastern Europe which support a democratic, open, civil, creative, and entrepreneurial society.
MTO works with the network to strengthen and promote the goals of civic education in local communities. In workshops for parents, teachers and school administrators, MTO introduces the "why's" and "how's" of creating PTAs as well as the basics of fundraising. Participants return to their schools with a mission statement, draft of a statute and a first project proposal. Once they have formally registered they are eligible for a first mini-grant and can join our network of similarly civic-minded schools.

The School Plus Network currently has PTAs in the following places:
. Albania: Berat, Kruje, Kukes, Lac-Kurbin, Mamurras, Tirana
. Azerbaijan: Baku (3), Ganja (2), Bardha, Mingachevir (2), Lankaran,
. Bosnia: Tuzla, Lukavac
. Bulgaria: Sofia, Plovdiv, Vidin (2), Shumen, Radomir, Gorna Oryahovica, Chepalare
. Kosova: Vitomirica, Prizren, Gjilan, Peje, Prishtina, Zhur
. Macedonia: Tetova (3)
. Moldova: Chisinau, Cretsoaia, Pirlita, Cahul, Pleseni, Gratiesti, Balti, Svoboda Rascov
. Montenegro: Kolasin
. Poland: Nowy S±cz, Wielog³owy
. Romania: Deva (2), Hunedoara, Iasi, Resita, Timisoara, Suceava
. Southern Serbia: Bela Palanka, Svrljig (2), Cokot
. Ukraine: Bakhchisaray, Lviv
. Vojvodina: Bela Crkva (2), Subotica (2), Vrsac (3).

Our goal is to strengthen the School Plus Network by infusing it with innovative programs that enable colleagues from all the countries involved to work together on similar initiatives and at the same time enrich the schools so that they really represent more than the traditional school. "Plus" should mean "Plus". To this end we have begun to implement such projects as "Village", "Street Law" and "Public Achievement" throughout the network.
We feel that we have had a positive influence in all of these places and that local PTA's are slowly taking leadership positions and sharing their expertise and experiences with others in their region and even beyond. We will continue to consolidate and strengthen the existing network while at the same time expanding it to new areas. We will build upon the existing human resources of our partners so that together we will create an open, democratic society in the Balkans and Trans-Caucasus.